Just finished reading “The devil wears Prada” by Lauren Weisberger, and while the book is not “literature” it’s one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read in a while. It’s about Andrea Sachs straight out of college, landig a job at the most hip fashion magazine “Runway” as Chief Editor Miranda Priestley’s junior assistant. Miranda is the epitome of the boss from hell, but Andrea decides to stick out an year with her, believing that at the end, Miranda (as rumored) can open many other journalistic doors for her. Miranda is apparently a genius at work, very influential in most circles, but a rude, spoiled, mean-spirited person. Andrea’s duties as her assistant, include getting her her meals at exactly the right temperature, dropping off dry-cleaning, finding shops ,reviews, articles, pieces of furniture Miranda asks for at a moment’s notice, and other menial tasks. All jobs must be done to the precise degree, which is often difficult for Andrea, because Miranda hates clarifying vague instructions, and is likely to lose her temper and humiliate Andrea (and others).
The book takes us through Andrea’s initial enthusiasm at “Runway”, progressively degenerating into an effort at maintaining a life outside work, and her sanity in the face of Miranda’s overt hostility. Finally however, Andrea must decide between her desire to gain a foothold in the journalism industry via Miranda, or her rapidly reducing flock of friends and concerned family.
Andrea seemed a real character with flaws, and very human (detests being made to wear 4 inch heels every day, while gallivanting around fetching Miranda’s coffee), and I’m guessing that she and the author think as one. Other characters which feature in the book are Alex, Andrea’s patient boyfriend, Lily her best friend, and Emily, Miranda’s senior assistant and devoted slave. Andrea’s worried parents and family also influence Andrea’s life, health and sanity for the better.
This is clearly a “rant” book, Miranda Priestley, as per rumors, is based on Anna Wintour, Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief, although Weisberger denies it. At one time, Lauren Weisberger, apparently worked as an assistant for her. When this book came out, it created a furore in the fashion industry, and the “New York Times” ran not one but two reviews ripping the book to shreds. I really don’t care if this is a rant, it’s a very interesting rant, and even though I have scant interest in the fashion industry, I enjoyed it. And really, if Wintour is such a nasty piece of work, kudos to Weisberger for getting it off her chest and profiting financially too!
